Tortured Mate (Sassy Ever After Universe #62)(3)

“How bad are you hurt?”

Rogue cracked open one eye and peered at the man crouched beside him, Sheriff West Graelin. “Not shifting back...hurts…. need to heal.”

“No problem. Barbara is already on her way. Just need to know a couple things. Should I take you to see Dr. Connelly?”

“I’m not going to the local vet doctor, you ass.” Rogue wished he wasn’t in so much pain so he could knock the laughing bastard on his ass. “Can you be serious and tell me if he’s okay? What happened?”

West cocked his head, “Shouldn’t that be my question to you?”

“Answer me, damn it. How is he?”

“Unconscious, but alive. We got here just as the beast was sucked back to hell. He took him out, Jericho is with him now.”

“How did he get here?”

“Brogan told him to meet us here as soon as we found out about them. He figured a demon would have a better chance of beating them. Turns out that was a smart move, the other guy is his brother Valac.”

“Seriously?”

“Explains how he survived the fight and was able to dispatch one of them doesn’t it. But back to your other question earlier. The beast didn’t want to take on Jericho and the three of us. It disappeared, I’m assuming to go back and report it to whoever controls it.”

Rogue wasn’t sure why but he just felt an overwhelming pull towards Valac. Like he needed to be beside his mate, to assure himself he was okay.

“What are you doing?” West demanded, “Stay down and relax.”

Rogue ignored the other man and climbed to his feet slowly. As long as he didn’t put any weight on his right front paw, the pain was manageable for a few steps at least. But that was all he needed. With a grunt of pain, he dropped down beside Valac and let out a soft whimper.

Jericho raised one eyebrow at him but that was it. Rogue wasn’t sure what that look had been all about, and he really didn’t care. His mate was all that mattered. “Is he going to be okay?”

“He’ll heal,” Jericho replied cryptically.

“That’s not what I asked.” Rogue was fighting his body’s demand to sleep and heal, but he couldn’t let himself rest until he knew his mate was safe.

“It’s not a simple answer, wolf. Those hell beasts will be back and other things will be sent as well. Our brother won’t rest until he makes Valac pay for helping me escape.”

“What about your sister, can’t Cadence help? She gave you a potion to stay here, can’t she do that again?” West asked as he joined them.

Jericho shrugged, “I already talked to her. She’s agreed to safeguard Valac at her place. With the wards she has in place, no one can get to him. He’ll be safe for the time being.”

Rogue let out a grunt, relaxed and let his body pull him under.





Chapter Three


Valac was aware of noises and hushed whispers but he couldn’t tell if they were real or just another of Aeron’s tricks to drive him insane. They weren’t screaming in pain or begging for mercy so he was leaning towards them being real. He tried to talk to them, but they were too far away and growing fainter by the second. He could barely hear them as the blackness crept in and took him down once again.

The next time he clawed his way up from the black abyss the voices were a bit louder but still unintelligible. He strained to talk to them, to move his hand, to do anything to let them know he was there and could hear them. He thought he heard his name called and spun around in a circle in the black empty space he was in, but he couldn’t find the voice. Then it came again, “Valac, rest. Your body isn’t ready for you to wake yet. You’re safe.”

He wasn’t sure why, but he believed the voice and he did as instructed. He laid down right where he was in the inky black void and went back to sleep. The next time he heard a voice he knew who it was. His brother was here. Valac strained to open his eyes, each one felt like it weighed ten pounds.

“That’s it, open those eyes. You can do it.”

“I’m trying...” Valac hissed as he pried them open finally and looked into the smiling eyes of Jericho. “Could have given me something good to look at instead of your ugly face, brother.”

Jericho laughed as he pulled Valac into a hug, “It’s good to see you too brother. I didn’t know if I’d ever see you again, let alone here in Blue Creek.”

“I wasn’t sure I’d make it. Aeron was suspicious and watched me closely. He couldn’t prove it was me, I made plans and escaped before he could confirm anything. He’s been on my ass since that day. He almost got me in that alley, I was just lucky that wolf showed up and gave me a fighting chance.” Valac gasped, “Shit, the wolf, did he survive? How did I survive, that other hell beast should have dragged me back?”

“He’s fine. He’d alerted the pack. Brogan told me and we all showed up in time to see your beast disintegrate. The other one we chased and cornered but it disappeared instead of fight all of us.”

“Where am I?” Valac asked as he glanced around the cluttered cabin in puzzlement. “I can’t stay long, he’ll send more things after me until he succeeds.”

“Not here he won’t. You’re safe, they can’t touch you as long as you stay with me.” Cadence announced as she entered the room. “I’m happy to see you awake and healthy. I’ve been anxious to meet you for myself.”